Azalea plant named MNISIR

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Azalea  plant found as a seedling in a planned cross between the female  Azalea  ‘Cherie’ (syn. V12-4) and the male  Azalea  ‘Indian Summer’ is disclosed. The new variety has a unique blooming period and is extremely cold hardy. It is a compact, dense, and upright growing plant with attractive, semi-double, hose-in-hose, coral pink flowers.

Genus/species: Rhododendron sp.

Botanical designation: ‘MNISIR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of evergreen Azalea of the genus Rhododendron. This new Azalea, hereinafter referred to as ‘MNISIR’, was discovered in August 1981 in Lawrenceville, Ga. ‘MNISIR’ originated from a planned hybridization between hybrid Azalea ‘Cherie’ (syn. V12-4) (unpatented) and hybrid Azalea ‘Indian Summer’ (unpatented) in Lawrenceville, Ga. The value of this new cultivar lies in its unique blooming period, growth habit, and cold hardiness.

Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings was performed in Dearing, Ga. The new plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successive generations by vegetative propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Dearing, Ga.

-   -   1. Unique spring and fall blooming;     -   2. Large, semi-double, hose-in-hose flowers;     -   3. Easily propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring         through summer;     -   4. Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and moisture         conditions;     -   5. Upright, dense, and compact nature;     -   6. Attractive, showy flower;     -   7. Grows well in containers;     -   8. Thrives in shade or sun; and     -   9. Hardy in USDA Zone 5b.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Azalea hybrid variety is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show blooms and foliage of the plant in full bloom. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic means.

FIG. 1. shows a close-up view of stems, mature foliage, and immature foliage.

FIG. 2. shows mature foliage and growth habit of a seven gallon plant.

FIG. 3. shows a close-up view of a mature inflorescence.

FIG. 4. shows the plant in full bloom.

FIG. 5. shows the re-blooming characteristic of the plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new variety of Azalea based on observations made of a 3-year-old plant grown in a seven-gallon container according to wholesale commercial production conditions in Dearing, Ga. The colors of the various plant parts are detailed with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Ericaceae.         -   Species.—Rhododendron sp.         -   Common name.—Azalea.         -   Commercial name.—‘MNISIR’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Gartrell hybrid Azalea ‘Cherie’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Gable hybrid Azalea ‘Indian Summer’             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Compact, dense and upright.         -   Height.—1-1½ feet.         -   Width.—3-3½ feet.         -   Growth habit.—Upright, dense and compact.         -   Growth rate.—Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and             moisture conditions. In a period of six years from a rooted             cutting, the plant reaches a height of 2-3 feet and a spread             of 3-3½ feet. The growth rate is normally about 4 to 6             inches per year; the plant reaches a height of 4 to 6 feet             at maturity while maintaining a dense habit.         -   Spring growth.—In 2004, the date of initial spring growth             was March 15, in Dearing, Ga. After the initial spring             flush, there was continuous growth through the fall. The             average length of terminal growth of the initial spring             flush is about 3¼ inches for a plant in full sun and about             2¾ inches when grown in shade. This growth, if not pruned,             will begin to produce flowers starting in April. As the             plant continues to grow through summer and fall, more flower             buds are produced which mature and bloom until frost.             ‘MNISIR’ bloomed heavily until frost in December, 2003. The             remaining growth produces about 2 to 4 inches of height.         -   Life cycle.—Perennial and evergreen. -   Leaves:     -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple, evergreen.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.         -   Leaf length.—1 9/16 inches.         -   Leaf width.—½ inch.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf base.—Acuminate.         -   Leaf apex.—Mucronate.         -   Petiole length.—¼ inch.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 146D (yellow-green).         -   Mature leaf.—Upper leaf surface. Surface texture:             Semi-glossy. Surface color: RHS 139A (green). Surface             pubescence: Strigose. Surface pubescence color: RHS 155C             (white). Midveins and laterals: Impressed on surface. Lower             leaf surface: Surface texture: Matte. Surface color: RHS             146B (yellow-green). Surface pubescence: Strigose. Surface             pubescence color: RHS 164B (greyed-orange). Midveins and             laterals: Prominent on surface.         -   Immature leaf.—Upper leaf surface: Surface texture: Dull.             Surface color: RHS 144A (yellow-green). Surface pubescence:             Strigose. Surface pubescence color: RHS 155C (white). Lower             leaf surface: Surface texture: Matte. Surface color: RHS             146C (yellow-green). Surface pubescence: Strigose. Surface             pubescence color: RHS 155C (white). Immature petioles and             midveins: Petiole color: RHS 144A (yellow-green). Midvein             color: RHS 144A (yellow-green). Petiole pubescence:             Strigose. Petiole pubescence color: RHS 155C (white). New             growth pubescence: Strigose. Length of pubescence: 1/32 to             1/16 inch; numerous on mid-vein and petiole, more so as the             leaf matures. -   Stems:     -   -   Form.—Densely branched.         -   Young stems.—Stem color: RHS N144B (yellow-green). Stem             pubescence: Strigose. Stem pubescence color: at point of             attachment individual hairs emerge RHS 155C (white) and             mature to RHS 167A (greyed-orange); hairs distal from stem             are RHS 164C (greyed-orange). Stem length: 3 to 6 inches.             Stem diameter: 3/32 to ⅛ inch.         -   Second-year stems.—Stem color: RHS N200B (brown) and RHS             197A (greyed-green). Stem pubescence: Glabrous. Stem length:             3 to 6 inches. Stem diameter: 3/16 inch.         -   Pith.—Solid and uniform.         -   Internode length.—⅛ inch to ⅞ inch when grown in both full             sun and light shade. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Buds.—Tight; borne in groups of three sheathed by a pair of             modified leaf bracts.         -   Bud shape.—Ovate.         -   Bud size.—⅝× 5/16 inch.         -   Bud scales.—Distal portion pubescent (tomentose), individual             hairs emerge RHS 155C (white) and mature to RHS 167A             (greyed-orange).         -   Bud color.—RHS N144C (yellow-green) and RHS N144D             (yellow-green).         -   Bud sheath.—Bud sheath length: ⅝ to 13/16 inch, persistent.             Immature sheath color: RHS 139A (green) and RHS 144D             (yellow-green). Mature: As the buds swell, the bud sheath             matures to RHS 145C (yellow-green), and RHS 46D (red), falls             off and reveals the flower color of RHS 42B (red).         -   Bud pedicel.—Pedicel length: ⅜ inch long. Pedicel color: RHS             N144C (yellow-green). Pedicel pubescence: Villous. Pedicel             pubescence color: RHS 167A (greyed-orange).         -   Calyx.—Calyx shape: Cup-shaped, 5 sepals, persistent. Size:             ⅜ inch long. Color: RHS N144C (yellow-green). Pubescence:             Villous. Color of pubescence: RHS 167A (greyed-orange). -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower type.—Perfect, semi-double, hose-in-hose.         -   Flowering habit.—Borne on the current season's growth.         -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—4-6 days in the sun;             8-11 days in the shade.         -   Length of flowering period.—3 to 4 weeks in April in             Dearing. Ga.; flowering resumes in September and continues             until frost which can be as late as November or December.         -   Peduncle length.—¼ to ½ inch.         -   Peduncle diameter.—⅛ inch.         -   Flower shape.—Open funnel-shaped.         -   Flower diameter.—2½ inches.         -   Flower depth.—1½ to 2 inches.         -   Petal number.—10, fused at the base and remain fused up to ¼             inch from the base.         -   Petal pubescence.—Glabrous.         -   Petal shape.—Obovate with obtuse to rounded apices and             entire margins.         -   Petal size.—1¼ inches long.         -   Petal color.—Upper surface: RHS 39B (red). Lower surface:             RHS 180C (greyed-red). Spots on upper surfaces of 3 of the             five petals: RHS 53A (red).         -   Sepals.—Ovate and joined at base to form a cup.         -   Sepal number.—5.         -   Sepal color.—RHS N144C (yellow-green).         -   Sepal size.—¼ inch long× 3/16 inch wide. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Ovary.—Tomentose.         -   Placenta arrangement.—5 locules.         -   Pistil.—Single, non-petaloid, sometimes petaloid.         -   Pistil length.—1¼ to 1⅜ inches long.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 185A (greyed-purple).         -   Style color.—RHS 47C (red-purple).         -   Stamen number.—5-6, petaloid.         -   Stamen length.—1⅛ to 1⅜ inches.         -   Stamen color.—Filaments: RHS 185A (greyed-purple). Anthers:             RHS 187A (greyed-purple).         -   Pollen color.—RHS 155D (white).         -   Fragrance.—None.

CULTURE

‘MNISIR’ grows well in a wide range of conditions and tolerates sun to shade. It prefers moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter and responds well to mulching and medium applications of fertilizer. It does best in soil with a pH of 5.0 to 5.5. It is propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring through the summer.

DISEASES/INSECTS

Lace bugs and spider mites can be a problem.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL CULTIVARS

The female, or seed parent, of ‘MNISIR’ is the Gartrell hybrid Azalea ‘Cherie’ (syn. V12-4) (unpatented) which has orange-red, double flowers and is a late blooming azalea. ‘Cherie’ is the result of a cross between ‘Jimmy Coover’ (unpatented)×‘Glamour’ (unpatented) and the pink blooming Robin Hill hybrid ‘Lade Louise’ (unpatented).

The male, or pollen, parent is the Gable hybrid ‘Indian Summer’ (unpatented) which has yellowish pink flowers and is a fall blooming azalea. ‘Indian Summer’ is a fall blooming clone of R. kaempferi.

In Table 1 below, the instant plant is shown in comparison with the parental cultivars.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘MNISIR’ ‘Cherie’ ‘Indian Summer’ Height (Mature) 4-6 3-5 ft. 8-10 ft. Width (Mature) 3-3½ ft. Not available Not available Flower Diameter 2½ in 2 in. Not available Flower Form Semi-double/ Double Single/hose-in- hose-in-hose hose/semi-double Flower Color Coral pink Deep reddish Yellowish pink orange Flowers per 3 Not available Not available Terminal Bloom Period April; Not available Fall September to frost Petal Number 10-11 Not available Not available Hardy Zone 5b 6 5 Stamen Number 5-6 Not available 5 Stamen Type Petaloid Petaloid Non-petaloid 

1. A new variety of Azalea plant named ‘MNISIR’ as herein shown and described. 